Ravena Wulandari The Only Hijab-Wearing Finalist, Asserts That Hijab Is Not an Obstacle to Compete in Miss Universe Indonesia 2024

Kapanlagi.com - Ravena Wulandari, a hijab-wearing woman from Aceh, has successfully captured public attention after making it to the top 16 of Miss Universe Indonesia 2024. Ravena expressed her gratitude for reaching this stage.

"Alhamdulillah for this opportunity given to Vena to be one of the top 16 finalists in Miss Universe Indonesia and to be the only one wearing hijab here," said Ravena to Kapanlagi.com at SCTV Tower, Central Jakarta, Saturday (14/9/2024).

This achievement not only makes her proud but also inspires many women in Indonesia, especially those who wear hijab. Ravena firmly states that wearing hijab is not an obstacle to achieving dreams and aspirations.

"Yes, because I myself show that hijab is not an obstacle. Because we know that in the Miss Universe event, it is very rare to see someone wearing hijab, right? So I want to show that every woman in Indonesia has the same opportunity. And also, hijab is not an obstacle for us to keep moving forward and developing," she said.

1. The Only One

Ravena Wulandari (Credit: instagram.com/ravenawulandari_)

Ravena is the only hijab-wearing finalist among the participants of Miss Universe Indonesia 2024. In this event, she carries the mission to show that the hijab does not limit opportunities and the roles of women in various fields, including in prestigious beauty competitions like Miss Universe.

"I want to inspire all Indonesian women, especially those who wear hijab. There is no need to be afraid, because we are actually a form of diversity from Indonesia. It’s even better that we are here, right? So not everyone is the same, we are different," she said.

This year's Miss Universe Indonesia selection was not conducted through regional representatives, but rather through a national selection. Ravena began her journey by registering online, and then was selected as one of the 30 participants who attended offline auditions in Jakarta. From those auditions, she successfully made it into the top 16 who will proceed to the quarantine stage.

The Miss Universe Indonesia event is not Ravena's first experience in the pageant world. Previously, she served as a Tourism Ambassador in Bireuen Regency, Aceh, and participated in the provincial level Tourism Ambassador event.

2. First Time

"Coincidentally, Vena herself is a Tourism Ambassador in Biren Regency. She has also participated in the Aceh Province Tourism Ambassador Pageant," she said.

However, this competition is her first time performing at the national level. Nevertheless, Ravena feels grateful and proud to compete with other participants whom she considers smart, beautiful, and friendly.

"So, this National Event is the first time for Raffaena. And Alhamdulillah, it turns out that the friends at the National level are all nice. They are all beautiful and smart. We are all close here," said Vena.

As a finalist who is also active as a model in Aceh, Ravena is accustomed to appearing at various fashion shows in her region. In addition, she is also a student currently working on her final project. Ravena is committed to continuing to develop herself in the world of entertainment and modeling while promoting the cultural diversity of Indonesia on the international stage.

"Of course, I want to promote Indonesia internationally. I want to promote Indonesia's diversity. And also show that Indonesia is very diverse and inclusive. There are many after this event. We have seen many Miss Universe winners who eventually dive into entertainment," she explained.

3. Be an Inspiration

During the quarantine stage of Miss Universe Indonesia, the finalists are trained in various skills such as public speaking, catwalk, and other materials. This training aims to prepare the finalists to not only be physically beautiful but also to possess high intelligence and confidence.

Ravena hopes she can be an inspiration for many women, especially in facing the stereotypes that often arise against hijab-wearing women.

"What we often say is that wearing a hijab means this or that. So we don’t need to think about others. Because it actually depends on ourselves. We can also be successful without compromising our values and beliefs. What we have within ourselves depends on how we carry it and believe in ourselves," she said.

Through the Miss Universe Indonesia 2024 event, Ravena Wulandari is determined to convey a positive message about diversity and inclusivity in Indonesia.

"So I hope I can be an inspiration. For young Indonesian women. And for hijab-wearing Indonesian women, I hope they don’t need to be afraid. Because of the stereotypes that arise," she concluded.

(kpl/far/tdr)